Act 4:1 (ESV) And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

Act 4:2 (ESV) greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

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Act 4:10 (ESV) let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.

Act 4:11 (ESV) This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

Act 4:12 (ESV) And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

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The Sadducees were a strong opposition of the Gospel BECAUSE it claimed resurrection as it’s foundational principal.

Pharisee’s opposed Jesus because Jesus focused on the fulfillment of the law and the transition from external rules pointing toward the perfect Law of Christ to Spirit’s leading and the internalization of God’s character through our adoption into God’s family.

In Acts we see the Sadducees oppose the apostles because of their focus on the resurrection as the affirmation and confirmation of Christ’s deity and saving work

Christ’s resurrection is the core message of the Gospel.

1Co 15:3-8 (ESV)

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Resurrection is the proof of God’s stated solution to our sin/self/separation problem.

Adam and Eve chose to separate from God…

Gen 2:16-17 (ESV)

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,

17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Separation from God - no eternal hope or destination other than separation from all that is good in God.

Christ declared Himself the Way…

Joh 14:6 (ESV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

What separates us from God is the destructive power of death.

Resurrection = Christ’s absolute sovereignty over ALL things

We can put our whole faith and trust in Him.

Rom 8:31-32 (ESV)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

This is why Paul said…

Php 3:7-14 (ESV)

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Act 3:17 (ESV) “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

God points out many times that His grace covers ignorance…

Jesus on the cross:

Luk 23:34 (ESV) And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Which flows into the concept of grace covering ALL our failings

Luk 6:27-28 (ESV)

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

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Act 3:18 (ESV) But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

Act 3:19 (ESV) Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

I want to come back to this concept of repentance…

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Act 3:20 (ESV) that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

This is pointing towards Grace SECOND coming…

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Act 3:21 (ESV) whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

Is correlates with what we get to practice now “… Renew your mind…”

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Act 3:22 (ESV) Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

Act 3:23 (ESV) And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

Pride prevents us from listening…

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Act 3:24 (ESV) And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

Act 3:25 (ESV) You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

Act 3:26 (ESV) God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

All have opportunity, not all will take advantage of it.

Mat 7:13-14 (ESV)

What is the narrow gate? It is repentance in humility.

So what does this “repent “look like? Is this the, “whoops, I’m sorry, all right, let’s move on!”

Repent. This refers to a change of mind and purpose that turns an individual from sin/self to God. Such change involves more than fearing the consequences of God's judgment. Genuine repentance requires action, no mere academic change of mind, nor simply regret or remorse.

John the Baptist called for repentance as a radical turning from sin that inevitably became manifest in the fruit of righteousness

Mar 1:4 (ESV)

And John expected fruit…

Mat 3:8 (ESV)

8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

In my own life I have to deal with my own repentance and the repentance of those around me.

Luk 17:3-4 (ESV)

2Co 7:10 (AMPC)

1Jn 1:8-10 (AMPC)

I need to look for the transformation of my heart – a desire in my heart to do differently.

This is the repentance I want to cultivate in myself and those around me.

One of the biggest battles mankind faces is the battle with pride. It comes out in every opportunity because it is ever present in our flesh. In failure and success we are battling pride.

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Act 3:11 (ESV) While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.

Act 3:12 (ESV) And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

Peter addresses directly the key source of conflict in our spiritual life - pride.

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Act 3:13 (ESV) The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

Peter is addressing the Jews and so he is giving them a clear description of the God that they are familiar with along with the prediction that they know of in the suffering servant to help them best understand and grasp the truth he is talking about.

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Act 3:14 (ESV) But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

Act 3:15 (ESV) and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

Speaking the truth is an absolute necessity in sharing the gospel. It is necessary to bring out our imperfect standing before a perfect God. The truth of our failings is the foundation for the need of salvation.

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Act 3:16 (ESV) And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Here Peter highlights the reality of faith versus personal virtue.

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Let’s go back and look at Peter’s statement denying that his piety or virtue was the source of this miracle - it hits on a hinge point of the human condition. The key that impacts our eternal destiny - pride.

Act 3:12 (ESV) And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

Here is the crucial human battle. Whenever we are interacting in the supernatural or being used by God, our flesh swells up and our pride claims to be the source or the reason for the power being displayed.

Adam and Eve proved that our flesh wants to be the one in control.

Gen 3:6 (ESV)

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Satan is the great manipulator. He desires to be in control. Satan is condemned for that very thing – desiring to take the place of God.

Isa 14:13-14 (ESV)

13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

Reality is there is only one God, and we are not Him. That is why God is so opposed to pride – it destroys the possibility of a relationship with Him.

Jas 4:6 (ESV)

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Paul highlights our perfect example in Philippians…

Php 2:5-11 (ESV)

This is our call: to humbly admit who and what we are and go to God. He WILL graciously lift us up far beyond anything we could ever deserve or hope for.

He will use us to impact eternity both in our lives and in the lives of others!

This is worth living for!

Eternity is impacted by your decisions in this world

Use circumstances to impact eternity

Worldly circumstances do not dictate or indicate eternal destiny! But worldly circumstances CAN be used to change our eternal destiny.

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Act 3:1 (ESV) Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

9th hour was 15:00 or 3 o’clock

Jews have three times of prayer nine, noon, and three. These are the times that Daniel prayed in the Old Testament when his adversaries caught him and got him sent to the lion’s den…

Peter and John are going to worship at a place dedicated to the worship of God but managed and controlled by people who dishonored God. Why? Why not start their own synagogue? Establish their own temple? They did not go to the temple of Diana or Zeus or Molech…

They were not about earthly organizations and structures but about honoring God and making disciples. When rejected at the place built to honor God they did go to private residences…

They use the worldly circumstances to the best of their ability to accomplish their eternal task – make disciples.

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Act 3:2 (ESV) And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

This was not an injury that would be could be healed over time. It was something the man was born with.

Alms are a way for men to acknowledge the value of everyone God has created. We should be acknowledging their inherent value in this act, not lifting ourselves up.

Alms should be for those who are in need not those that can provide for themselves.

He who will not work will not eat

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Act 3:3 (ESV) Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

Act 3:4 (ESV) And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

Act 3:5 (ESV) And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

Act 3:6 (ESV) But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

One of the questions I find useful to ask myself throughout life but especially when reading God‘s Word - How is this impacting eternity?

Think of this man’s life - he just lays around all day, other people carry him where he needs to go, other people give him money for his needs…

Think about what the life goal of many people is in this world… To have nothing to do, sit around all day, have other people meeting your needs, no responsibilities… This is the worldview of “retirement“ or the idyllic life. NOT!

This man had no freedom, he was totally reliant on others and was unable to improve his own situation very much.

Getting healed gave him the freedom to be the master of his own “destiny” and yet, did it change his eternal destiny?

He goes from being totally dependent on others in a very demeaned position to freedom to take control of his temporal life and yet his eternal destiny has not changed.

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Act 3:7 (ESV) And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

Act 3:8 (ESV) And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Act 3:9 (ESV) And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

Act 3:10 (ESV) and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

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This man’s physical circumstances changed dramatically in this story yet the big story was when he gave glory to God! That is an indication that his ETERNAL circumstances have changed!

Our temporal circumstances do not limit or control our eternal destiny. Our temporal circumstances should point us to the ultimate eternal solution – a full commitment to a lifelong relationship with God that will take us into eternity as an adopted child of His!

Devotion to Christ’s character

Unity of focus

Singleminded

Leaders serve

Serve

Act 2:42-47

Fellowship, Unity - Love

Joh 13:35 (ESV)

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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Act 2:42 (ESV) And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

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Act 2:43 (ESV) And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

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Act 2:44 (ESV) And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

Not commune living but holding lightly

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Act 2:45 (ESV) And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Retain ownership and sold as the Lord led…

Need not greed. Because someone has something does not mean you need it.

Php 4:11-12 (ESV)

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Pro 30:8-9 (ESV)

8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,

9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

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Act 2:46 (ESV) And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

Generous - aphelotēs - af-el-ot'-ace

simplicity, singleness

Unity and other centered focus

Human nature versus God’s nature

Selfishness versus selflessness

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Act 2:47 (ESV) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Why did they have favor with all people?

Exhortations to love and unity…

Rom 12:10 (ESV)

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Rom 13:8-9 (ESV)

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Rom 15:5 (ESV)

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

Gal 5:13-14 (ESV)

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Heb 10:24-25 (ESV)

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

1Pe 4:8-10 (ESV)

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

This is the type of lifestyle God is calling Christians to: selfless service of others – always looking out for the best of others!

this is the example Christ gave and it is the one he called us to copy. If we live this way, the world will sit up and take notice!

favor with all the people

Sometimes when you purchase something in a package, there will be a note that says “Some assembly required.“

What happens to you during your life are the “parts” for what you will be and do in eternity. God has given them to you and now you have to choose what you’re going to do with them, how you are going to respond.

Christianity: Some action required!

Act 2:33-41

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Act 2:33 (ESV) Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

When God’s hand is revealed we ought to sit up and take notice!

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Act 2:34 (ESV) For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,

Act 2:35 (ESV) until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

Jesus walked in full obedience to God. Once He had accomplished what God called Him to accomplish, God took Him to heaven and cultivated the fruit of His efforts for the balance of time.

Walk in obedience to God. He uses our feeble, finite efforts and works outside the realm of time and space to accomplish HIS purpose.

Zec 4:6 (ESV)

6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

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Act 2:36 (ESV) Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Act 2:37 (ESV) Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Heb 4:12 (ESV)

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

His Spirit works with the Truth of the Word to provide the conviction which opens the door to transformation. We must act when we are convicted or we will become dull of hearing.

1Th 5:19 (ESV)

19 Do not quench the Spirit.

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Act 2:38 (ESV) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Here is the action point!

Eph 1:13-14 (ESV)

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

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Act 2:39 (ESV) For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Act 2:40 (ESV) And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

Act 2:41 (ESV) So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

1Co 2:1-5 (ESV)

1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.

2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,

4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

I am not a “pastor” or trained theologian. I am a man who was convicted by God’s Spirit and determined to pursue Him by His grace.

If God is convicting your heart, take action! Don’t sit and let it fade away. You only have one life to live, use it to impact eternity - for yourself and those you interact with!

Christ as Lord

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Act 2:22 (ESV) “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

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Act 2:23 (ESV) this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Act 2:24 (ESV) God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Remember what Jesus said to Martha on the way to Lazarus‘s tomb…

Joh 11:25-26 (ESV)

Heb 2:14-15 (ESV)

Jesus is NOT just a great “spiritual warrior” in conflict with Satan. Jesus is the Creator God in the flesh!!

Joh 1:1-4 (ESV)

Look how it all ends…

Rev 19:19-21 (ESV)

Rev 20:1-3 (ESV)

Rev 20:7-10 (ESV)

This is the Christ who offered himself up to be crucified! No mere man – Almighty God in the flesh!

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It is no wonder then that all of the apostles focus on the resurrection – the clear illustration of the power of God over the thing mankind sees as the ultimate end and most often fears most: DEATH.

David was given prophetic insight…

Act 2:31 (ESV) he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

Act 2:32 (ESV) This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

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Peter’s next sermon…

Act 3:15 (ESV)

15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

Peter’s closing statement…

Act 3:26 (ESV)

26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Peter’s declaration before the Sanhedrin…

Act 4:10 (ESV)

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.

Apostles before the Council

Act 5:30

Peter to Cornelius

Act 10:40

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch

Act 13:30

Act 13:33–34

Act 13:37

Paul before the Areopagus

Act 17:31 (ESV)

31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Jesus is NOT just a great spiritual leader. He is the Creator God in the flesh!!

Act 2:14 (ESV) But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

The newly appointed apostle, Matthias, was with them and they were all standing, representing the truth of Christ. No more hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews!

Joh 20:19 (ESV)

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Peter is actually stepping out boldly under the power of the spirit and declaring the truth.

2Ti 1:7 (ESV)

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

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Act 2:15 (ESV) For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

Peter speaks to the lie then speaks the truth.

Jews calculated from sunrise making it about 9 AM.

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Act 2:16 (ESV) But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

Act 2:17 (ESV) “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

“The last days“ refers to the entire period of time spanning from the coming of Christ to His return.

Heb 1:1-2 (ESV)

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

1Pe 1:20-21 (ESV)

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

1Jn 2:18 (ESV)

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

Joel’s prophecy sweeps through an immense portion of time starting with the release of the Spirit. These other signs correlate directly with the end times including the tribulation.

Visions and dreams are present in the book of Acts but not universal. Peter and Paul are the primary ones noted to have them in Acts. God will increase the use of these as the End draws near.

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Act 2:18 (ESV) even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

To prophesy is to “tell forth“ the divine counsels and to predict future events especially in relationship to God and His kingdom.

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Act 2:19 (ESV) And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

Act 2:20 (ESV) the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

Act 2:21 (ESV) And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

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God‘s spirit is the means and the mechanism for all that he will accomplish in this world. We are the vessels in conduit through which his power flows.

2Ti 1:7 (ESV)

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

We have this treasure inside our imperfect human flesh…

2Co 4:7-18 (ESV)

Circumstances do not affect us when we are walking in the power of the spirit!

We are called to live out the character of Christ – this is how we manifest him in our mortal flesh!

Act 2:1 (ESV) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

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Act 2:2 (ESV) And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Joh 3:8 (ESV)

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

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Act 2:3 (ESV) And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

Exo 3:2-5 (ESV)

2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.”

4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

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Act 2:4 (ESV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

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Act 2:5 (ESV) Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

Act 2:6 (ESV) And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

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Act 2:7 (ESV) And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

Act 2:8 (ESV) And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

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Act 2:9 (ESV) Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

Act 2:10 (ESV) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,

Act 2:11 (ESV) both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

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Act 2:12 (ESV) And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Act 2:13 (ESV) But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

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Let’s look briefly at a very deep subject…

Act 2:4 (ESV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Baptized/indwelling vs filled vs convicting

Eph 5:18 (ESV)

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Seems to be part of the process of the act of baptism - God fills us up

Eph 1:13-14 (ESV)

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Rom 8:9 (ESV)

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Baptized

1Co 12:12-13 (ESV)

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Convicting:

Joh 16:7-8 (ESV)

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

United in Purpose

Unity is the aim of Christ for His Body

God’s Spirit is not yet present and resident in this body, so this passage takes place under the old covenant’s parameters.

Act 1:12-26

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Act 1:12 (ESV) Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.

2000 cubits or 3000 feet… Just over half a mile. This was the distance that the Israelites had to walk while passing through the wilderness in the encampment God laid out.

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Act 1:13 (ESV) And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

Upper room here may refer to the room where they had the last supper. But upper rooms were very common in Jerusalem and throughout that culture.

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Act 1:14 (ESV) All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Unity was the signature or identifying characteristic of this assembly.

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Act 1:15 (ESV) In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,

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Act 1:16 (ESV) “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

Act 1:17 (ESV) For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

Act 1:18 (ESV) (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

Act 1:19 (ESV) And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

Act 1:20 (ESV) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’

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Act 1:21 (ESV) So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

Act 1:22 (ESV) beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

I am reminded that Peter has had several instances where is impetuosity or need for immediate action has led to mistakes. In light of the fact that God called Paul as an apostle, there is a distinct possibility that this was human reasoning leading.

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Act 1:23 (ESV) And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

Clearly the monumental decision as to who was to be one of the guiding leaders in the founding of the church was decided with the involvement of the whole church body, not just the sanctified leaders.

Although there is question as to whether this process was fulfilling God‘s purpose or man’s, either way what we see is a very unified, non-divisive decision taking place on a very big element. In many ways this illustrates faith in God. Get your direction and move. Trust that God will resolve any issues by His sovereignty.

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Act 1:24 (ESV) And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

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Act 1:25 (ESV) to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

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Act 1:26 (ESV) And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

United in Purpose

Unity is the aim of Christ for His Body

Joh 17:9-23 (ESV)

Eph 4:11-16 (ESV)

It is God‘s intent that we be unified, not divided, in our differences. We can accomplish that by taking on Paul’s perspective on differences…

Php 3:15 (ESV)